Central Pacific: Intercepted radio signals from unidentified Jap TF(s) at hex location 136, 131 in the Gilbert Islands (adjacent hex SE of Abemama) reported in a 1/22 Sigint entry. No available information about the Jap TF(s) composition or movement.

Sigint entry for 1/22 reports intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Tarawa, detected status shows no visible Japanese forces or activity.

** This contact moving too fast for your usual transport TF. Current position of the contact is NW of Rabaul, probable destination also Rabaul. Speed of this contact is noteworthy, could be almost anything and will need to be monitored.

Australia: No reported Japanese air activity this game turn over Darwin. Current airfield damage levels in Darwin are 9 runway, 8 airfield service damage.

Sigint entries for 1/24 report intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Tulagi and La Foa (dot hex base adjacent to Noumea). Detected statuses of these bases show no visible Japanese forces or activity at either location.

Burma: Detected status of Jap base in Rangoon from British aerial recon – no Japanese ships anchored in port, 3 Jap TF in harbor (+1 from last report), 67 aircraft (43 fighters, 24 bombers), 9 Jap LCU’s. Third Jap task force spotted at Rangoon reported to contain a total of 8 ships including one CVE with five PB/PC escorts – this TF in Rangoon not believed (at this time) to be the KB or a light carrier force.

From my point of view, this action will likely resemble in some respects the US/Philippine defense of Bataan in 1942 - not a question of holding Chungking (it’s fall being more or less inevitable) but rather a prolonged battle of attrition to waste as much of Pillager’s time as possible with the greatest possible losses and disruption to the Japanese LCU’s involved at Chungking. Chungking has zero supply on hand, therefore supply consumption or destruction of supply from enemy action is no object.

** below indicates Japanese LCU reinforcements arriving this game turn. Most arriving Jap LCU’s were previously engaged at Chengtu, several arrived from Sining.

Central Pacific: Intercepted Jap radio transmissions from several bases were reported in Sigint entries for 1/26 - locations include Kwajalein, Jaluit, Maleolap and Majuro. Detected status of Kwajalein shows the expected unidentified Jap aircraft based there, also unidentified ship(s) in port, no other visible Jap forces or activity. No visible Japanese forces or activity shown at Jaluit, Maleolap or Majuro.

South Pacific: US sub Seawolf and Jap surface ASW meet again in southern sea approaches off Rabaul. Someday we’ll put a hit in one of those small Jap escorts. AAR follows.

12 more detected Japanese LCU remain in the hexes adjacent to Chungking. From available intelligence data, up to 8 of the detected Jap LCU still outside Chungking are probably infantry divisions (15th, 32nd, 35th, 36th, 38th, 39th, 104th, 110th). What could be interesting is the attack odds Pillager will have once he has all the immediately available Japanese LCU piled into Chungking. Chungking currently has level 6 fortifications.

** below indicates Japanese LCU reinforcements arriving this game turn.

Central Pacific: Sigint entries for 1/27 report intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Abemama and Nikunau in the Gilbert islands. Detected status of Nikunau shows unidentified Jap aircraft based there, no other visible Japanese forces or activity at these two bases. .

Another 1/27 Sigint entry reports heavy Jap radio transmissions intercepted from Truk. Detected status of Truk shows the expected Jap aircraft based there, also ship(s) in port. Otherwise no visible Japanese forces or activity.

South Pacific: Japanese minefield detected in sea approaches to Auckland, minesweeping operations started. Additional minesweepers based in Auckland being dispatched to complete sweeping ops. AAR follows.

Japanese Home Islands: US sub patrol intercepts Jap transport convoy in two daylight actions, torpedoes one large xAK. Jap transport TF reported moving on an E heading (towards Japanese Home Islands). AAR’s follow.

US sub Grayback in patrol area SE of Tokyo reporting contact with G3M Nell air patrol – either Pillager no longer has the G3M in front line service or he has Nell squadrons employed in naval search/ASW tasks, another possibility being the G3M’s are from a training squadron. This contact is not a location where one would normally expect seeing Nells.

Sigint entries for 1/28 report intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Kwajalein and Roi-Namur. Detected statuses of the two bases show unidentified Jap aircraft based at both locations, ship(s) in port visible at Kwajalein. No other visible Japanese forces or activity.

Indian Ocean: Transport convoy CD-17 (10 ships) enroute from Capetown to Colombo with supply cargo intercepted by a Jap submarine (probably the one previously sighted off Colombo), one xAK from the convoy torpedoed and sunk. AAR follows.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Submarine attack near North Male at 22,48 (E of Colombo)

Revised movement orders were issued this game turn to divert convoy CD-17 from Colombo to a new destination where it will drop off its supply cargo before returning to Capetown. The cause for this order is linked to possible sortie of a 10-ship Japanese task force from Rangoon believed (from earlier inteliigence data) to be either surface combat or a “baby KB” containing CVE and/or CS – departure of the Jap TF from Rangoon concluded from information provided in this game turn’s RAF air recon over Rangoon (see above). Given convoy CD-17 is now sighted and Pillager’s most likely estimate has the convoy going either to or from Colombo, the convoy could easily become a target of the Jap TF if it continues into Colombo and unloads there.

Supply cargo aboard convoy CD-17 is not immediately required in Colombo (Colombo currently having 228K supply on hand). The convoy’s mission was delivering additional supply to Colombo while things in this theatre remain quiet, this task easily handled by other and later transport convoys. Allied transport operations from Capetown and the Middle East to India and Colombo are being conducted with the idea of (1) moving the largest possible quantity of cargo, and (2) doing so with the quickest turn-around of transport ships and minimal delay. To a large extent, final destination of a particular cargo in this theatre is less crucial than getting the ships there, unloading and going back for more – this to be done with minimum casualties.

Japanese Home Islands: Sigint report entries for 1/29 indicate Pillager is dispatching some reinforcements to Japanese bases in northern Japan (Hokkaido). Jap LCU’s newly detected on Hokkaido include HQ 1 Air Division plus 55, 177 & 178 JAAF AF Bns. Several other Jap LCU’s had been reported appearing at various locations in Hokkaido and the Kurile islands in previous Sigint report entries – these entries scattered over a period of the past month or so. Observed Japanese activity in this region appears to be more an upgrade of support capabilities at bases in northern Japan rather than a build-up for possible offensive operations in the North Pacific area.

South Pacific: Minesweeping operations off Auckland have completed. Transport convoy WP-36 was in Auckland unloading cargo on 1/28 when the minefield was first detected. The convoy departed Auckland as scheduled on 1/29 and successfully routed around the Jap minefield while sweeping operations were underway. There is little question that Pillager caught on to Auckland’s significance as an Allied staging center for the South Pacific theatre area.

The 10-ship Jap task force reported leaving Rangoon last game turn is one of the 3 Jap TF’s detected in Rangoon and apparently has returned to base. Detected composition of this TF is 1 CA, 6 CL, 3 CS. A second Jap TF (5 ships) detected in Rangoon appears to be a transport TF and shown including at least one TK plus ASW escorts.

Japanese Home Islands: US sub patrol intercepts Japanese transport convoy, torpedoes two medium to large troop transports. At least one of the torpedoed Japanese ships carried LCU elements. Jap transport TF remains spotted at the attack location – detected composition of the TF is now one ship, no information shown on the TF’s movement heading. My estimate is this TF had been or continues moving southbound from Tokyo to an unknown destination. AAR’s follow.

Central Pacific: Sigint entries for 1/30 report intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Kwajalein and Tabiteuea. Detected status of the two bases show unidentified Jap aircraft based at both locations, also ship(s) in port at both Kwajalein and Tabiteuea. No other visible Japanese forces or activity.

Game question... Are there any factor(s) in the game causing a sub commander to “decide” not to open fire? The commander of SS Guardfish had been checked when the sub completed its 12/42 ship upgrade and not replaced. Commander has leadership/inspiration ratings of 64/58, his aggressiveness and naval ratings are not visible from the current ship display (while the sub remains at sea and on patrol). It’s probably certain the sub commander’s aggressiveness rating is at least 60 or I would have replaced him during the 12/42 upgrade. I’m less certain of the commander’s naval rating though it’s probably in the upper 50% of available ship commanders. My selection process for sub commanders includes leadership, naval and aggressiveness ratings as criteria. SS Guardfish has a nearly full load of torpedoes on board – appears to have fired torpedoes one time earlier on its current patrol. There were also no entries in the 1/30 Combat Events or Operations reports indicating SS Guardfish was spotted or attacked by other Jap air or naval forces. Note: the 12/42 ship upgrade process just completed for all US fleet subs included a check of each sub’s commander when the sub completed the upgrade and before the sub was returned to active operations.

Central Pacific: Sigint entries for 1/31 report intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Wotje and Nauru. Detected status of Nauru shows unidentified Jap aircraft based there. Otherwise no visible Japanese forces or activity observed at either Wotje or Nauru.

South Pacific: Jap transport convoy spotted by SS Guardfish on 1/31 intercepted by a second US sub patrol sub E of Tulagi. Location and sequence of the two US sub contacts indicate the Jap TF is moving northward from Ndeni. AAR follows.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Auki at 118,136 (E of Tulagi)

US submarine S-44 on patrol in the northern part of the sea “channel” between Noumea and Tanna reports spotting by enemy in a 1/31 Operations report entry, no information is available as to what S-44 was spotted by. A second US sub patrol is operating to the SE of S-44's position in the southern exit from this “channel”. Naval air search from Suva is also covering the southern exit area. Maybe nothing, maybe something…

To answer your Game question about subs, commanders often decline to launch torpedoes at targets they deem very hard to hit, not worth torpedo expenditure or are inherently dangerous to attack, like ASW TF in following:

Appreciate your response to my question. My initial thought being it was somehow related to the sub's commander, the game doing some kind of check based on ____ , a failing result of the check possibly causing the commander to "chicken out" of the attack. Best theory I could come up with not really knowing for certain...

I had several other instances where this happened, having omitted one or more previous AAR(s) of this scenario from posting in the forum. I can easily see what you stated when going back to look at the instances I had where a sub commander decline to execute an attack - the common factor in all these AAR was the Japanese ship(s) encountered by the sub in the action. In AAR's of all these actions, all possible target ship(s) spotted in the Jap TF the sub was attacking were quite small (xAKL, PB, PC, etc) - they would certainly qualify as not being "worth the trouble". Also, there was sufficient ASW escort in each Jap TF where it was possible the sub could not safely obtain an attack position on its target. Either of these could have happened.

India: Remaining ships of transport convoy CD-17 (9 ships left after losing the xAK on 1/29) diverted from Colombo arrived this game turn at Bombay. The convoy is unloading its cargo (45K supply, no LCU or aircraft) in Bombay then returning to Capetown.

China: Japanese launch shock assault at Chungking. AAR’s follow.

12 detected Japanese LCU in hexes adjacent to Chungking.

** below indicates Japanese LCU reinforcements arriving this game turn.

Central Pacific: Intercepted Jap radio transmissions from several locations reported in Sigint entries for 2/02 – locations include Roi-Namur, Nikunau and Ocean Is. Unidentified Jap aircraft were visible in detected statuses of Roi-Namur and Nikunau, no other visible Japanese forces or activity observed in these three bases.

Jap transport TF north of the Solomons previously intercepted by US subs on 1/31 and 2/01 caught again this game turn by a third US submarine patrol. AAR follows.

Australia: Transport convoy EX-24 (47 transport ships, one SC) arrives in Australia from the Eastern US. Cargo arriving aboard the convoy includes three LCU (142 USA Base Force, 44 & 45 USN Seabee Bns), 102K supply and 46K fuel. The SC arriving with the convoy is planned to remain in Australia for future deployment with South or SW Pacific theatre.

DEI: US sub patrol intercepts and sinks Jap submarine passing southward through the Sunda Straits into the Indian Ocean sea area. AAR follows.

This action is the third attack and sinking of a submarine by another submarine in this PBEM – the other two sinkings were Jap sub I-2 sunk SE of Port Moresby on 4/27/42 and US S-class sub S-38 sunk N of Auckland on 7/29/42.

Sigint entries for 2/03 report intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Roi-Namur and Tabiteuea. Detected statuses of the two bases show unidentified Jap aircraft based at both Roi-Namur and Tabiteuea, unidentified ship(s) in port at Tabiteuea. No other visible Japanese forces or activity.

South Pacific: Unidentified Jap submarine detected in Suva base hex. At this time I only have AMc permanently stationed in Suva due to risk of naval air attack, therefore no surface ASW immediately available to engage the sub. My estimate is the Jap sub is either a minelayer (already in the process of laying mines) or was sent there to attack a small Allied transport TF that was spotted in Suva but has since completed unloading and now departed. If there are Jap mines in Suva, the minesweepers will find them soon enough.

Up to this point in the campaign, Pillager has utilized submarine minelaying more than I have. For most of 1942 minelaying has not been particularly extensive on either side and until recently there’s been rather little of it (and less than I expected). I have not made Allied submarine mine laying a particularly high priority. My estimate is that Pillager may increasingly resort to minelaying by Japanese subs as a “hit and run” measure to interdict Allied transport traffic rather than station subs in patrol areas off major Allied bases where they (Jap subs) can become targets of opportunity. From the behavior of Jap submarine patrols I’ve observed, Pillager in most instances almost immediately removes Jap sub patrols once he knows they are spotted – perhaps on the assumption Allied ASW forces will quickly appear to attack them. This observation especially true in or near sea areas known to be within reach of Allied ASW forces.

South Pacific: No further contact with the unidentified Jap submarine detected last game turn in Suva base hex. Allied minesweepers stationed in Suva have detected no Japanese mines.

US sub patrol encounters Jap surface ASW in southern sea approaches to Rabaul. AAR from recent combat experience are showing ASW weapons carried by Jap light surface ASW (mainly PB) has been largely ineffective, particularly against US fleet subs. Many depth charges dropped in attacks by Jap light surface ASW ships detonate above the depth where the US sub is located. This situation may change in the future and will certainly be watched. AAR follows.

DEI: Intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Palembang reported again in a Sigint entry for 2/04. Detected status of Palembang shows aircraft based there, also ship(s) anchored in port. No other visible Japanese forces or activity.

Japanese Home Islands: Two Sigint entries for 2/05 report heavy volumes of intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Tokyo, appears Pillager may have some kind of substantial Japanese activity in progress at Tokyo. No visible Japanese forces (TF’s) or activity at Tokyo is shown on map. Detected status of Tokyo base hex does show 122 ships in port, 62 aircraft (15 fighters, 28 bombers), no information on LCU’s.

While there are occasional Sigint reports of Jap radio transmissions from Tokyo which I don’t report normally, the presence of two Sigint entries in the same game turn reporting heavy intercepted radio transmissions from the same location could be considered an unusual event. A number of US patrol subs are operating in sea areas immediately south of the Japanese Home Islands, contact(s) may possibly be reported by one or more of these subs in the next several days if these Sigint entries are indicating a departure of Japanese ships from Tokyo.

Sigint entries for 2/05 report intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Roi-Namur and Mili in the Marshalls. Detected status of Roi-Namur shows unidentified Jap planes based there, otherwise no visible Japanese forces or activity at either Roi-Namur or Mili.

Central Pacific: Unidentified Jap TF(s) detected and visible on-map at Kwajalein. No available information as to number of TF(s), composition or movement.

Sigint entry for 2/06 reports intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Ocean Is. Detected status of Ocean Is shows no visible Japanese forces or activity.

Heavy volume of intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Truk reported in another Sigint entry for 2/06. Detected status of Truk shows the expected Jap aircraft based there, also ship(s) anchored in port. Otherwise no visible Japanese forces or activity.

Japanese Home Islands: An interesting observation while investigating a Sigint entry for 2/07 showing unidentified Jap TF in the Yellow Sea likely enroute to or from Port Arthur. I currently have a group of US fleet subs enroute from Pearl Harbor for patrol areas near Formosa to intercept Jap transport shipping between the SRA and Japanese Home Islands. Alternate patrol areas now under consideration for these subs would intercept Jap transports moving between ports in Manchuria and northern China (i.e. Shanghai & Port Arthur) and the Japanese Home Islands – this alternative could be more lucrative especially if Pillager can or is now doing overland movement of oil, resources, etc from the SRA northward through China then transporting by sea from Chinese ports to Japan.

If at all possible or feasible, overland transport through China could be desirable from a Japanese point of view – shorter sea transport routes would allow more effective use of the Japanese merchant fleet. However, there is another side to shorter routes for Japanese sea transport. Shorter routes allow easier concentration of US sub patrols against Jap shipping, also increased probability of intercepting Jap transport ships.

At this point, it’s all theory. Though I am tempted to dispatch one or more US subs from the group bound for Formosa and do a modest investigation to prove or disprove the theory. Worst case, it accomplishes nothing – best case, my subs could find “the jugular”.

Central Pacific: Heavy volume of intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Kwajalein reported in two Sigint entries for 2/07. Detected status of Kwajalein shows the expected Jap aircraft based there, also ship(s) anchored in port. Unidentified Jap TF(s) that were reported visible in Kwajalein on 2/07 are no longer there and likely departed. It’s quite possible the two Sigint entries at Kwajalein are associated with departure of the Jap TF from Kwajalein and/or any orders Pillager issued for the TF.

Sigint entry for 2/07 reports intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Wake Is. Detected status of Wake shows unidentified Jap planes based there, no other visible Japanese forces or activity. Detected airfield size at Wake is 3(0), port size 1(0). Jap LCU known to be located on Wake Is from available intelligence includes 14 JNAF AF Unit, Maizuru 2 SNLF.

Unidentified Japanese TF(s) visible on the game map at hex location 120, 90 (SW of Marcus Is). Japanese activity at this hex location was not indicated in any of the 2/07 game turn reports. No information available as to the number of TF at this hex, their composition or movement.

Japanese Home Islands: Unidentified Japanese TF(s) visible on the game map at hex location 110, 63 (S of Osaka/Kyoto) – Japanese activity at this hex location was not shown in any of the 2/08 game turn reports. No information available as to the number of TF at this hex, their composition or movement.

Sigint entry for 2/08 reports Jap 5 Armored Car Co now located at Tokyo. 5 Armored Car Co was previously eliminated in ground combat (in China) near Sian on 5/23/42. The Sigint entry indicates Pillager rebuilt this LCU from the “dead pile” and it has since re-entered the game.

US submarine Drum attacked by Ki-49 Helen air patrol E of Iwo Jima. No reported hits or damage.

Central Pacific: Intercepted Jap radio transmissions from several locations in the Marshall Islands reported in Sigint entries for 2/08 – including Eniwetok, Majuro and Mili. Detected status of Majuro shows one or more unidentified Jap LCU, presence of Majuro Base Force (IJN) at Majuro was reported in another 2/08 Sigint entry. No other visible Japanese forces or activity observed at the three bases.

US sub patrol intercepts what is probably the unidentified Jap TF spotted near Marcus Is on 2/08. AAR follows.

Sigint entry for 2/08 reports intercepted radio transmissions from an unidentified Jap submarine S of Norfolk Is (hex location 113, 172). Movement information for the Jap sub was not available.

Sigint entry for 2/08 reports heavy volume of intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Truk. Detected status of Truk shows the expected Jap aircraft based there, also ship(s) anchored in port. No other visible Japanese forces or activity observed. I have six US sub patrols currently operating within a 6-8 hex radius of Truk – intended to spot and if possible attack Japanese ship movements into or out of the base. This picket line also serves to catch any movement of the KB or Jap surface naval forces from Truk when Pillager is operating these forces from there. Other major Japanese naval bases in the Pacific theatres are being watched in a similar manner.

Manchuria: Jap 4 Independent Mountain Gun Rgt was reported at hex location 100, 40 (southern Manchuria) in a Sigint entry for 2/09 – this report together with the previous location of 4 Mountain Gun Rgt indicates Pillager is possibly transferring LCU from the Kwantung Army southward into China to reinforce the attack on Chungking. Previous reported location of 4 Mountain Gun Rgt was Port Arthur, showing movement of this LCU from Port Arthur southward toward the main part of China.

US West Coast: Intercepted radio transmissions from an unidentified Jap submarine was reported in a Sigint entry for 2/09 – reported position of the sub at hex location 204, 53 (WSW of Victoria). No Allied ships are currently in the area or expected to pass near this contact. Canadian naval air search now activated to track this contact, surface ASW is being readied to sortie.

Sigint entry for 2/10 states 15 Base Force (IJN) now located at Tabiteuea, transferred there from Guam. This report is additional confirmation Pillager has Tabiteuea developed as a primary Jap forward naval base along the far southeastern area of the Jap outer perimeter.

South Pacific: Operations report entry for 2/10 and several previous game turns indicating Pillager is likely flying continuous H6K4 Mavis air patrols over Suva base hex.

US sub S-36 operating in the sea passage between Tanna and Noumea (hex location 118, 157) reports attack by G4M Betty air patrol – G4M in this attack likely operating from Noumea. No reported hits or damage to S-36.

Central Pacific: Sigint entry for 2/11 reports intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Nauru Is. Detected status of Nauru shows unidentified Jap aircraft based there, also ship(s) in port. No other visible Japanese forces or activity. Current detected airfield size at Nauru is 2(2), port size 2(0).

South Pacific: Transport convoy BP-8 from Pearl Harbor arrives this game turn at Suva. Cargo arriving aboard the convoy include HQ Thirteenth USAAF and 7400 supply. Arrival of Thirteenth USAAF HQ in Suva is a key step in developing airfields for use in launching offensive air operations from airfields on Fiji. Construction activity to maximize airfield sizes at Suva and Nadi is very close to completion (both airfields expanded to size 9), some additional aviation support LCU’s and supply on Fiji are still required. After that… bring in the planes.

US sub S-36 between Tanna and Noumea continues reporting contact with G4M Betty air patrol, no attack this game turn.

Japanese Home Islands: Intercepted radio signals from unidentified Japanese TF(s) reported in a Sigint entry for 2/12 at hex location 111, 62 (S of Nagoya). No information available as to number of TF, composition or movement. No US submarine patrols in the immediate vicinity of this contact.

Heavy volume of intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Tabiteuea reported in another 2/13 Sigint entry. Detected status of Tabiteuea shows unidentified Japanese planes based there, also ship(s) in port – as expected. No other visible Japanese forces or activity.

Sigint entry for 2/13 reports heavy volume of intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Truk. Detected status of Truk shows unidentified Japanese planes based there, also ship(s) in port – as expected. No other visible Japanese forces or activity.

South Pacific: Jap submarine leaves Suva base hex, no further contact. Increased volume of Japanese planes reported flying over Suva base hex - probably including the H8K1 Emily, possibly also bombers. No Jap bombing strikes. Transport convoy BP-8 has completed unloading and since departed. A small Allied transport TF with supply and fuel from Auckland has arrived and now unloading. Fighter CAP over Suva remains activated.

Sigint entry for 2/14 reports intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Woodlark Is. No visible Japanese forces or activity observed at Woodlark. Detected status of Woodlark Is does show evidence of construction activity – current airfield size 3(5), port size 2(2). Known Japanese LCU located on Woodlark Is from available intelligence include Sasebo 5 SNLF, 7 Naval Construction Bn.

China: Japanese continue bombardment attack at Chungking. Seven new Jap infantry divisions arrive to reinforce attack on Chungking – Pillager now has nearly all available first-line Jap infantry divisions in the China theatre at Chungking. If Chungking can stop Pillager’s next Japanese deliberate or shock ground attack without heavy Chinese losses, the collapse of China (from the Japanese point of view) will likely be a long and miserable process. Latest AAR follows.

3 detected Japanese LCU in hexes adjacent to Chungking.

** below indicates Japanese LCU reinforcements arriving this game turn.

Central Pacific: Sigint entry for 2/15 reports intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Canton Is. Detected status of Canton Is shows unidentified Jap planes based there, no other visible Japanese forces or activity.

South Pacific: Sigint entry for 2/15 reports intercepted Jap radio transmissions from Koumac. Detected status of Koumac shows no visible Japanese forces or activity. No evidence of construction activity observed at Koumac – current airfield size 0(7), port size 1(1). Three Japanese LCU known to be located at Koumac from available intelligence, these include 87, 88 and 89 Naval Guard units.